While AAA video games likeDragon Age:The Veilguardshow that more mainstream titles are taking a look at marginalized perspectives in games, if there’s one place that people can often find atypical stories or perspectives beyond what’s typically shown in the media, it’s indie-developed titles. Indie games are defined by how they subvert the overall gaming zeitgeist, bringing dead genres back to life or telling stories that publishers would normally steer away from.
In today’s gaming scene, female protagonists aren’t rare,appearing as martial artistsor armor-clad knights or just about any other archetype out there, but indie developers are still utilizing femme protagonists to tell engaging, subversive stories like never before. These games in particular have female protagonists in sci-fi settings, often with stakes that have never been higher.
A sequel to the hugely popularSlime Rancher,Slimer Rancher 2takes all the things that was beloved about the first game and either maintains or enhances them.It’s an exceptional titlethat returns with its female protagonist, Beatrix LeBeau.
Exploring the mysterious Rainbow Island comes with a host of new features and technologies that could not be found in the first game. There are, of course, a host of new slimes to collect as well.
7Neon Blight
Sell Guns In A Gruesome Cyberpunk World
There area host of titlesthat allow players to manage shops, curating items and building reputation as an honest merchant. InNeon Blight, the ‘honest’ part isn’t so important, but players will still be completing a loop that will be familiar but satisfying to anyone who’s played these sorts of games before.
The female protagonist in this game doesn’t just sell guns but utilizes them as well in addictive, shoot-em-up gameplay across a host of areas. It’s here that she also finds more inventory and supplementary funds to help expand her store.
6Ubermosh
A Cyberpunk Arcade Gunner
This is a simple but incredibly engaging arcade-style shoot-em-up.Ubermoshstands with thebest in the genreand has a fantastic soundtrack to accompany the gruesome, bloody gameplay that defines this title.
The female protagonist can be upgraded in a host of ways and given new items to help her unleash more destruction. This is essential for higher levels as the game can become quite difficult at times.
5Synergia
A Stylish Sci-Fi Visual Novel
Cyberpunk titles take on a variety of genres, fromsprawling open worldsto, as seen on this list, platformers and shoot-em-ups.Synergiatakes the cyberpunk genre in a different direction with a poignant, highly compelling Yuri visual novel.
Playing as a cynical cop in a world filled with androids and neon lights,Synergiais an excellent exploration of both intimate relationships and the big picture meaning of life in a fantastic, bite-sized visual novel.
4Sanctum
An Incredibly Novel Tower Defense Game
Standing alongside some of themost unique tower defense games,Sanctumhas players build great bastions and intricate mazes then explore them in first person as they try to defend an encroaching horde of sci-fi enemies.
The female player characters in this title are able to use a host of defensive measures and weapons to keep foes at bay and protect the main objectives from being attacked - doing this from a first person perspective is an incredibly novel twist on the genre.
A new title standing out as Telltale Games returns to the gaming scene,The Expanse: A Telltale Serieshas all the best hallmarks of the games that players had come to love from this indie developer.
Anyone who has enjoyed the story heavy games this developer is known for will enjoy this title, but it’s an especially good experience for those familiar withThe Expansebook series and TV show.
Taking inspiration from thebest of the Mega Man platformers,30XXis fantastic platformer title with many characters to switch between - including some excellent and uniquely specialized female protagonists.
This game has a good learning curve for beginners, but it won’t be long until new players and veterans alike are challenged by some of the harder levels and enemies that30XXthrows at its players.
A vibrant, iconic side scroller,Eden Genesishas the best components of titles likeKatana Zerofused with a slick, graceful cyberpunk environment. Every level in this game pops, and the story is a grim, mature look at a dystopian cyberpunk future.
Leah is a cyborg gifted with some incredibly powerful augments that players can put to use as she rallies against the corporate despots that control this cyberpunk world, players that manage to get a hold on her unique speed and moveset will be rewarded with a fantastic experience.
